Although the development of powerful computers and the rise of the internet has introduced humans to an entirely new way of communication and thought, it has also introduced a slew of new dangers. Bad actors and extortionists have found ways to harness these incredible technologies so that it can be used to exploit others, allowing these unsavory individuals to steal data, money, and even identities!

Because of the growing concern around hackers and thieves, and out of a desire to allow the internet to remain a positive force for good in society, a new branch of study was developed. Referred to as Information Security, or InfoSec for short, this study focus has turned into a viable and rewarding career path for individuals in the IT field.

But how do you know who is and isn’t an information security professional?

In order to demonstrate that professional InfoSec technicians understand the dangers that threaten online security, and that they are able to mitigate these dangers, professional certifications have been developed in a similar way to many other professional industries and trades.

And when it comes to InfoSec, there are no professional credentials more impressive than CISSP!

Frequently Asked Questions

A: CISSP is an acronym that stands for Certified Information Systems Security Professional.

Q: What kind of jobs do CISSP certified professionals have?

A: CISSP certified individuals can work in any IT position with a focus on security.

Q: How do I become CISSP certified?

A: To become CISSP certified you must have several years of InfoSec experience and pass a certification exam.

What is CISSP Certification?

The main reason why this certification is so highly lauded by IT professionals and so widely sought out by job recruiters is due to its relatively high barriers of entry. The three requirements are:

Experience/Education: In order to sit for the exam, you must have at least five years of experience working in recognized InfoSec domains or fields. Possessing other IT certifications, a Bachelor’s degree in any subject, or a Master’s degree in Information Security will waive a year of professional experience from this prerequisite.

Examination: After agreeing to the CISSP’s Code of Ethics and passing a criminal background check, you must complete a six-hour long examination that combines multiple-choice questions with more advanced word problems. Out of 1,000 possible points, you must earn at least 700 to receive a passing grade.

Endorsement: The final step upon completing the necessary education, background checks, and examination is to be professionally endorsed. You can seek endorsement from individuals with several different InfoSec certifications that are in good standing with the certification body.

CISSP Certification Exam Details

As previously mentioned, one of the major requirements for becoming a CISSP certified InfoSec professional is passing a rigorous exam. This test is significantly more intimidating than many other certification tests as it is meant to cover a wider subject matter.

Exam Subject Matter

What subjects are covered on the CISSP exam? Here’s a brief list:

Security

Risk Management

IT Architecture and Engineering

IAM: Identity and Access Management

Software Development

Software Testing and Assessment

CISSP Exam Pass Rates

Specific information about the pass rates for this exam are unavailable. However, based on word of mouth, it seems that a sizable majority of people who take this exam receive a passing grade.

Whether this has to do with the strict experience requirements or weighted grades on the part of the test administrators is unclear; however, it appears that this certification exam is indeed passable, provided you are properly experienced and knowledgeable in information security.

CISSP Exam Preparation

Since the pass rates for the CISSP exam are supposedly very high, it shouldn’t be a big deal to prepare for the exam, right?

Wrong!

Regardless as to how many people who take the test pass it, the fact remains that this is an advanced course meant for InfoSec experts. That means you are going to need an expert’s level of knowledge on just about everything to do with information security.

Meeting the necessary experience requirements is only one part of being prepared for the exam. It’s also important that all of the knowledge you’ve gained from this experience is up-to-date and relevant to the present day.

The best way to ensure your InfoSec knowledge is up to par is by seeking the help of an educational company or course. Enrolling in a course from Simplilearn, Master of Project Academy, or the sea of available prep companies can greatly improve both your chances of passing the exam and your confidence in the ability to provide expert-level security and protection on the information superhighway.

You can learn more about the best CISSP prep courses by checking out our comparison chart.

SimpliLearn CISSP Training Online

OVERALL RATING:★★★★★

Money-Back Guarantee: SimpliLearn offers their students a 3 day money-back guarantee. If you are not satisfied with the course within the first 3 days of usage you can request your money back as long as you haven’t accessed more than 50% of the course.

Simulation Exams: This training provides you with 5 CISSP Simulation Exams. Each exam consists of 250 questions for a total of 1,250 online questions. The exams are meant to simulate the real CISSP Exam and will allow you to track your progress and proficiency in different areas.

CPE Credits: SimpliLearn’s CISSP counts towards your 35 Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Credits or 30 Professional Development Units (PDUs). This training can be a great way to keep up with your ongoing professional education requirements.

The Bottom Line: SimpliLearn’s online CISSP training program provides students with several comprehensive practice tests that contain a total of over 1,000 practice questions, perfect for exam prep. They also serve as an excellent CPE resource.

Careers and Salaries

After meeting the experience and education requirements, passing the six-hour exam, and receiving an endorsement from another certified professional, you will have successfully obtained one of the most highly valued InfoSec certifications in existence.

Because of this, a whole slew of potential career paths and opportunities will become available to you. Many recruiters for management positions in IT seek out individuals with this certification, meaning that this is an excellent path to pursue for anyone looking for upward career mobility.

Some common careers for CISSP certified individuals includes:

Information Security Manager

Information Security Analyst

Systems Administrator

Security Architect

Security Engineer

Cyber Security Specialist

Technology Auditor

Security Assesser

Information Security Officer

With job titles including words like Manager, Administrator, Architect, and Engineer, you might think that these positions come with impressive salaries.

And you’d be absolutely right!

According to online salary aggregator PayScale, the lowest end of a working CISSP certified individual’s annual salary is between $65,000 and $80,000. It’s not hard to find these InfoSec professionals making average yearly salaries of over $100,000, with some of the top paying positions even making $120,000.

It gets better. According to a study conducted in 2017 comparing the salaries of all cyber security certs, professionals with CISSP certification earned nearly $20,000 more per year than any others on average. That means that this field of study is far and away the most lucrative, both in InfoSec and in general IT work!

So what are you waiting for? There’s no better time to start your InfoSec certification journey than right now!